As we previously reported, TMZ released an audio recording said to be of LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling in which Sterling is heard making disparaging remarks regarding African Americans. He was allegedly speaking to his young reportedly half black, half mexican girlfriend V. Stiviano in the recording.

BUT WAIT….it gets better! It seems that Donald Sterling and the LA Clippers back office have stepped up to make a statement and in it they are accusing Ms. Stiviano of altering the tape that TMZ released!

In an even wilder twist they also say that Ms. Stiviano embezzled millions of dollars from the Sterling family and is currently being sued for it! So this was her idea of payback for the lawsuit! WHAT?!

In the statement Sterling and the clippers tell TMZ that Sterling doesn’t know if the tape is legit but either way it doesn’t reflect his feelings toward African Americans.

They claim,

“We have heard the tape on TMZ. We do not know if it is legitimate or it has been altered. We do know that the woman on the tape..who we believe released it to TMZ, is the defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Sterling family, alleging that she embezzled more than $1.8 million, who told Mr. Sterling that she would ‘get even.

Mr. Sterling is emphatic that what is reflected on that recording is not consistent with, nor does it reflect his views, beliefs or feelings. It is the antithesis of who he is, what he believes and how he has lived his life.

He feels terrible that such sentiments are being attributed to him and apologizes to anyone who might have been hurt by them.”

Here was our intial problem with the statement…WHAT DO THEY MEAN THEY DON’T KNOW IF IT’S LEGIT?! If he can’t say for a fact that he never, ever in his life said anything resembling those comments…then why even bring the recording’s integrity into the discussion at all?

But then THIS happened!

So, once LA entertainment journalist Tim Sanchez brought that to our attention we looked into it further and according to CBS Los Angeles,

“The wife of Clippers owner Donald Sterling filed a lawsuit Friday against a woman she alleged had a sexual affair with her husband.

The suit filed by Rochelle Sterling also alleged that the woman, identified in court documents only as V. Stiviano, was also given lavish gifts by Donald Sterling, including property and cash.

Rochelle Sterling accuses Stiviano as being the type of woman who “engages in conduct designed to target, befriend, seduce and then … receives as gifts transfers of wealth from older men whom she targets for such purposes.”

According to the suit, Stiviano has several aliases, including Vanessa Perez, Monica Gallegos and Maria Valdez.

Stiviano reportedly met Sterling at the Super Bowl game in February 2010 and that same year began a sexual relationship with him, the suit states.

The suit asks for a return of all cash, land, expensive cars and other items that under California law are the community property of the Sterlings.”

So it isn’t even the “Sterling Family” it is his disgruntled, scorned ex-wife who is suing Stiviano for being the other woman and taking her man away from her…along with money and gifts. Did the publicist research any of this information at all before allowing this statement to go out?! Like any of it?

We certainly don’t have all the resources that Mr. Sterling is privy to but we do know some phenomenal publicists that could help him with his next statement! Oh wait…they’re black…never mind.

We don’t care about getting an apology but don’t pee on our legs and tell us it’s raining. Either you said it or you didn’t and that statement does not make us feel like it wasn’t said.

Oddly enough according to TMZ, Sterling was slated to receive an NAACP award next month…we’re pretty sure that honor will not be given out now!

Reaction has been negative and not much of anything else. Take a look at what people have been saying below!

Clippers star Chris Paul issued this statement as president of the National Basketball Players Association:

“This is a very serious issue which we will address aggressively. We have asked Mayor Kevin Johnson to expand his responsibilities with the NBPA, to determine our response and our next steps. Asp layers, we owe it to our teams and our fans to keep our focus on our game, the playoffs, and a drive to the Finals.”

NBPA mayor Kevin Johnson was not as laid back in his comments. Said Johnson of Sterling’s alleged comments,

“The National Basketball Players Association must and will play a very active role in determining how this issue is addressed. There needs to be an immediate investigation and if the reports are true, there needs to be strong and swift action taken. I have spoken with NBPA President Chris Paul and will be leading the NBPA in addressing the implications of this serious matter. I will be formally reaching out to the NBA today to determine our next steps.”